Scientists collect goanna sperm in bid to create gene bank to save species from extinction

For the first time in Australia, a team of scientists attempting to create a gene bank have successfully collected sperm from a goanna.

The move is part of a wider project to preserve the genetics of animals facing population decline or extinction in the West Australian Kimberley, due to cane toads.

Researchers collected the sperm using a technique called electro ejaculation, which until now has only been performed on reptiles in the US.

The University of Newcastle's Simon Clulow says it is the beginning of the "Kimberley Ark".

"For the first time, anywhere in Australia and only the second in the world, we've managed to obtain sperm samples from a reptile species, which is the beginning of our gene bank known as the Kimberley Ark," he said.

He says it was an interesting experience.

"All lizards and snakes actually have two penises known as hemipenes, so we've got a bit to play with there," he said.

Mr Clulow says gene banking is needed to mitigate the impacts of cane toad migration into the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

"Goannas decline by up to 96 per cent and quolls can go locally extinct so the point is preserve that diversity and then actually try to bring that diversity back after declines happen," he said.

The next challenge is to find a way to store the samples indefinitely, so they can be used to "re-create" species if they go extinct.

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